Sunday, 20 January 2008

Here's some little pincushions I made after I decided I needed more space than my daggy one I got handed down from mum.

I started by googling square pincushions, and found this tutorial, originally paper.string.cloth and now Hyenas in Petticoats and she's just gorgeous! Great instructions and great pics, and a great pottymouth to boot I've later discovered!

I've cleaned as much as I can now, and started watching Edward Scissorhands on the cable, and perhaps will try out a maternity dress as Outfit Number 10. Got some great patterns at the Orbost Oppey whilst driving through.

Here's outfit number nine! (We saw Ferris Bueller last week 'Your son has been absent NINE TIMES' 'Nine Times?' 'Nine Times') and it's for a lovely chickadee at work, if she likes it! Otherwise I might shop it around, as it's totally gorgeous!

It's a very light see through cotton material, blue with tiny red and white hearts all over, and I lined it with grey cotton so to stop the seethrough-ness of it.

Hey! It's the weekend, and I found some arvo time yesterday to finish another shift dress for a fave custie! She's the owner of the green dress green dress AKA Outfit Number 5, and now this one, Outfit Number 8:

It's a lightweight cotton, that hangs so well. She chose the fabric herself, and doesn't it look excellent!?? Mr Veronica hoped there was enough material leftover for a 70s look short sleeve shirt for him, ala Festival Shirt, but not too sure, there might be just enough, but I'll have to do the yoke in a plain fabric.

So, I'm very close to 10/100 - which is One Tenth of a way through my 100 Outfits goal!

This week has been very surreal, after changing to early hours, plus there's mountains of work to do, so I've been staying late to get things done. After the Australia Day long weekend things will settle down though (I hope!). So it's been hard to fit sewing in during the week at the moment. I've got some cleaning up to do (Mr V is in Melbs comes back tonight, so want to surprise him with shiny new clean house) today, but have a few more items to post for you! Ooooh!

Monday, 14 January 2008

Today I woke up at 4.30am (before that 1.50am and 4am to check the time) and got to work at 5.10am EEP! I take a long time to get ready in the morning, and I never knew!

ARGH!

Anyways, here's my pledge for the Wardrobe Refashion, as I got my invite to join over the weekend and am so happy! Thanks to Nikki Shell for the blog and the hosting and the invites and all the hard work. And here's to recycling and renovating and getting into fash in a really cool original way. So here's my pledge:

I Veronica Darling pledge that I shall abstain from the purchase of "new" manufactured items of clothing, for the period of 6 months. I pledge that I shall refashion, renovate, recycle preloved items for myself with my own hands in fabric, yarn or other medium for the term of my contract. I pledge that I will share the love and post a photo of my refashioned, renovated, recycled, crafted or created item of clothing on the Wardrobe Refashion blog, so that others may share the joy that thy thriftyness brings! Signed Veronica Darling xoxo.

xoxoMy only new manufactured items of clothing (that I buy) tend to be singlets from Target and Kmart, because they're so cheap and look great with most things. So my goal is to make singlets WITHOUT an overlocker, well I do have an overlocker but it needs a service and is totally spazz with tension. Last time I tried to teach myself how to use it I made the daggiest tshirt no husband of mine would wear.

So at least I know my weakness. singlets and Target and Kmart sales. If you've been doing Wardrobe Refashioning and the pledge, what is your weakness items? Any clues on how to make singlets (skinny straps and tight stretchy)???

Sunday, 13 January 2008

On Friday we went out to dinner for a friend's birthday, and I had a bit of time beforehand, so I made her a present! Mr Veronica Darling remembered her fave colour is red, and so I went through my scraps and got all the red bits, that kind of matched for a patchwork thing. Now, I've never much liked patchwork, and I've never done it before, but I like experimenting. And here's a made up style for a purse!

She really liked it and loved that NO ONE in the world would have one like it (her words) and that made me think patchwork is a pretty spesh thing. Plus it takes a little while of extra sewing, so there's even more love than just a normal purse.

When I've made purses, I haven't used patterns or instructions and really testing my maths brain (I thought it left me long ago!) so I'm pretty happy with the result, but the zipper is slightly curved making the purse square on side and bottom edges but a slight semi circle on the top - only slightly. I mustn't be able to sew them straight. Not sure!??

See you later! We're off to the gym now and then getting outside - it's gorgeous today!

Tuesday, 8 January 2008

It's a Built By Wendy pattern, uniquely crafted by moi, and I only just finished the hem today and trotted off to work! What do you think:

It's a blue/red cotton check material, on a discount from my fave Marrickville chums (husband, wife and son team! V. cheap and open to even more discounts), it was perhaps $2 a metre in the end. I started on Sunday and plodded through until this morning. Everyone at work loved it and I shall be sewing at least 2 dresses for peeps as well. You guys have obviously seen the top AND the dress now, and I think it works great both ways.

I cut my dresses a bit shorter because I'm a shortie girl, but it will still work great a bit longer. AND, since I've had a few more orders, I've got to get my prices sorted for things, but at this stage I'm looking at (in Aussie Dollars):

Tops:$30 - for a straightforward Veronica Darling creation - I source materials and colours for you$20 - if you supply the material - ie buy it or source it yourself

Dresses:$40 - for a straightforward Veronica Darling creation - I source materials and colours for you$25 - if you supply the material - ie buy it or source it yourself

Hmmm... might have to check with my fave custie as she's got a knack for prices! Catch you guys later! And thanks for your comments - you guys are great! V. encouraging.

Saturday, 5 January 2008

And here is Outfit 6/100 revealed, a gorgeous 70s shirt top. Six is my fave number so here is an outfit for me!

The front (above) is three separate pieces, with the top left & right with four tucks, I'd never tried this before, but it seems to be ok! Then the waist has a massive stitched on belt!

The back (above) shows the massive belt tied up in a bow, and the nice bunchy gathering on the shoulders, coming from the yoke.

And the close up of the tucks!

It was a vintage 70s pattern (the drawing even showed the model with a head scarf and massive sunglasses), and was totally brand new. The material is from The Remnants Warehouse, and was on special, it's a light cotton.

I wore it the other day driving to Lakes Entrance and it was perfect and flowy over shorty denim shorts! It's too short for a dress the way it is, but the pattern lends itself to be a longer skirt if one desires!

Here is another present for a fave custie, she's a bit taller than me (I'm 4'11') and I'm hoping this will look sweet on her, nice and short! It's a shift-type dress that is the same pattern as Outfit Number Four, but the material is printed cotton and a little stiffer than the silky one from #4. Have a look:

I told her I would make a birthday present for her (in November!), so long as she chose the fabric, and I'm pretty happy with this considering the material I've used for this pattern has been more drapy and silky. I didn't include the bottom band, as I thought it would make the garment too stiff and bunchy around the bottom, but I did sew a wide 3 inch hem line (just in case she it's too short for her too!) and I'm pleased with the A-frame sticky out-y hem.

I've tied it with a simple ribbon at the back instead of buttons, and I reckon this makes it all the more unique!

I've never made New Year's Resolutions, I'm not sure why... but I don't often like doing things that people insist you do... and I'm sure I was made to do resolutions at school.

BUT, I do like lists, and filling in forms and generally anything about writing stuff. I do like plans and organising (my brain works that way! ARGH!), so in any case, here's my list of things for the next wee while:

- Continue '100 Outfits' plan of attack! Blog each outfit!

- Get a new camera, Mr Veronica Darling has already planned this out, it's some sort of Canon blah blah 40 blah lense blah - but he assures me it'll be great for pictures for my blog/etsy/etc

- Get etsy going! I am planning that most of my '100 Outfits' plan will become etsy-fied soon enough, but first I'm doing my orders from my elite custies (customers - can you tell I abbreviate a lot?). So Veronica Darling on etsy for 2008 woo yeah!

- Blog and have fun online!

- Buy handmade for myself, for Mr Veronica Darling, and for gifts - Nikki Shell's idea. AND promo recycling and reusing things as much as possible.

- Laugh a lot.

There's mostly my online List of Things; other life things I do all the time without making lists, you know, hangout with friends, love my husbie, love work and going to work, laugh my head off, watch crime shows. whatevs really!

I'm off now to take piccies of the newest additions to '100 Outfits' and then make a dress for my other fave custie and a birthday manshirt for a friend at work!

Tuesday, 1 January 2008

I made this dress for my fave custie's sister! I made a mock up dress for myself probably at the end of winter, and it was PRETTY short, so I wear shortie shorts or leggings underneath, but it's made of this swishy flashy black material, that's a bit stiffer than swirly (can you tell I don't know my fabrics very well?) and my fave custie wanted something similar for her sister... but I couldn't find exactly the same material, as I got it on a roll from a bargain bin.

I shopped around and there was a sale at Remnants Warehouse in Marrickville, so here's the final product with similar type material:

The pattern I used is a nightgown 60's style dress, but instead of using contrast band on the top and bottom, I use the same material and make the bottom band a bit smaller to get the puffy bag look at the bottom to mirror the top gathering. It's a bit tricky for me to do, but this is my second attempt and as it was a gift I wanted to make it fantastic, so I think it turned out ok! I also left a bit of a hem there as well in case the dress was too short for her sister, and the band could be adjusted. BUT, I got a text on Christmas from my fave custie with happiness and love all round! Yay!

I've been busy here on holidays, so will get posting my other new outfits soon! But I'm so pleased that this present turned out so well!

I'm Veronica Darling & this is my blog! A Collection of Vintage, Ethical, Mindful Clothing & Creative Choices. A commentary of modern life in Shanghai, trying to slow down fashion and appreciate hand crafted & preloved items and skills.